Peer Support: Beliefs and Ideas

It is important to notice how our beliefs and ideas affect how we do Peer Support. If we don’t pay attention, we may end up doing to each other what’s been done to us, and we may behave in old ways to get what we need. If we can learn to stand back from our own perspective and remember that we’ve all had different messages about illness and help, we’ll find that we can build more trusting, healing, and respectful relationships.

Mental Health Language

Regular People Language

Chronic

In Recovery

Symptoms

Experiences

“High/Low Functioning”

“Having a good/bad day”

Manipulative

Strategic

“My Client”

People I work with

Referred to by diagnosis

Person

“The mentally ill”

People

Non-compliant

Not in agreement with me

Treatment resistant

Considering other options

Safety

Feeling supported enough to try new things

Decompensate

Having a bad day

Practice transforming these statements to fit with the Peer Support model.

“The consumers in my program are unmotivated.”

Instead I could say ___________________________________________

“Maybe I should call the crisis line for you…”

Instead I could say ___________________________________________

“Staff here are more recovered than members.”

Instead I could say ___________________________________________

“She’s fragile/in crisis.”

Instead I could say ___________________________________________

“Staff should have good boundaries and never give out their home phone numbers.”

Instead I could say ___________________________________________

“No one ever wants to help me.”

Instead I could say ___________________________________________

“We don’t take calls regarding suicidal feelings, call Crisis.”

Instead I could say ___________________________________________

Some possible responses:

People here have been taught to have low expectations.

How can I support you in doing what you need to do?

We’re all working on our recovery and we all have good and bad days.

She has survived a lot and will get through this tough time.

It is good to figure out where and when to set limits.

I feel pretty isolated.

I’m a little scared about what’s going on for you, how can we figure this out together?

Advocates for Human Potential, Inc., cannot address personal mental health problems or issues. We care very much about your concerns but we must focus our efforts on education and resource development. For more information on how to get help for yourself or the people you are supporting, please use the resources on this website.